200-201 Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) Questions and Answers

 During the collection phase of the forensic process, data related to a specific event is labeled and recorded to preserve its integrity. This step ensures that the data remains unaltered and authentic from the time of collection until it is presented as evidence,maintaining the chain of custody. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 6: Security Incident Investigations

 Volatile data is information that is stored in memory or other temporary storage that is lost when the power is turned off or lost. According to NIST SP 800-86, login sessions and swap files are considered volatile because they exist in the system’s memory and can be lost or changed rapidly

The 5-tuple approach consists of protocol, source IP address, source port number, destination IP address, and destination port number to uniquely identify sessions between endpoints on a network. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

The defense-in-depth principle is a strategy of applying multiple layers of security controls to protect an asset from threats. It is based on the assumption that no single security measure is sufficient to prevent all attacks, and that each layer adds more protection and reduces the risk of compromise. One example of applying the defense-in-depth principle is implementing alerts for unexpected asset malfunctions, which can indicate a potential security breach or incident. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: The CIA Triad and Security Concepts, Topic 1.1.4: Defense-in-Depth Principle

The principle of least privilege states that users and processes should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their specific role or function within an organization. This reduces the attack surface and limits the potential damage of a compromised account or process. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Security Principles

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

Attacking a vulnerability is categorized as exploitation, which is the third phase of the cyberattack lifecycle. Exploitation is the process of taking advantage of a vulnerability in a system, application, or network to gain access, escalate privileges, or execute commands. Action on objectives, delivery, and installation are other phases of the cyberattack lifecycle, but they do not involve attacking a vulnerability. Action on objectives is the final phase, where the attacker achieves their goal, such as stealing data, disrupting services, or destroying assets. Delivery is the second phase, where the attacker delivers the malicious payload, such as malware, phishing email, or malicious link, to the target. Installation is the fourth phase, where the attacker installs the malicious payload on the compromised system or network to maintain persistence or spread laterally. References: What is a Cyberattack? | IBM, Recognizing the seven stages of a cyber-attack - DNV

In the context of cybersecurity, an asset is anything that has value to the organization, its business operations and their continuity, including data and physical devices. In the role of attribution in an investigation, which is the process of associating an action or event with a particular individual or entity, certain assets are particularly relevant. A laptop © can be an asset because it may contain data or clues that can help trace the origin of a cyber attack. Similarly, identifying the threat actor (E) is crucial for attribution, as it involves understanding who is behind the attack and their motives, which can be essential for preventing future attacks and for legal proceedings.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)1.

The QR field in the DNS header specifies whether the message is a query (QR=0) or a response (QR=1). This bit is set to 0 for query messages and is set to 1 for response messages, allowing the recipient to distinguish between the two.

When a system is overwhelmed with alerts, designing criteria for reviewing alerts can help prioritize and manage them more effectively. This approach allows for a structured review process that can distinguish between false positives, false negatives, and legitimate alerts, reducing the overall number of alerts that require attention3.

References := The strategy of designing criteria for reviewing alerts is recommended in cybersecurity best practices to manage alert fatigue and improve the efficiency of security operations3.

 In RBAC, access is based on the roles that users have within an organization, and permissions to perform certain operations are assigned to specific roles. DAC, on the other hand, is a type of access control where the access rights are determined by the owner of the resource or the resource itself.

What Are Ports 139 And 445? SMB has always been a network file sharing protocol. As such, SMB requires network ports on a computer or server to enable communication to other systems. SMB uses either IP port 139 or 445. Port 139 - SMB originally ran on top of NetBIOS using port 139. NetBIOS is an older transport layer that allows Windows computers to talk to each other on the same network. Port 445 - Later versions of SMB (after Windows 2000) began to use port 445 on top of a TCP stack. Using TCP allows SMB to work over the internet. https://www.varonis.com/blog/smb-port SMB Ports 139 and 445 are open Email Ports 25 and 110 are closed Therefore "D. Email Ports are closed on the Server."

When a company workstation is compromised, the stakeholders that must be involved are the ones who are responsible for the security incident response process. According to the table, these are Employee 4 (Security Operation Center Analyst), Employee 6 (Head of Network and Security Infrastructure Services), and Employee 7 (Technical Director). The other employees have different roles that are not directly related to the incident response process, such as accounting, financial management, or system administration. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.4: Security Monitoring, Topic 1.4.1: Security Operations Center

The engineer engaged with the service component by enabling “Audiosrv,” which is the Windows Audio Service responsible for managing audio for Windows-based programs. By setting it to auto-start, the engineer ensured that the service would run automatically upon system startup. Additionally, the engineer interacted with process and thread management by using the Task Manager to modify the behavior of the “Audiosrv” service.

The information is based on standard operating procedures for troubleshooting audio issues in Windows OS, which involves services and processes management.

The scenario described involves an attacker conducting an aggressive ARP scan followed by multiple SSH Server Banner and Key Exchange Initiations. The lack of visibility into the encrypted data transmitted over the SSH channel suggests that the attacker may have gained access by brute-forcing the SSH service. This method involves attempting numerous combinations of usernames and passwords until the correct credentials are found, allowing unauthorized access to the server.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course1.

Cisco Cybersecurity documents and resources

 A sandbox interprocess communication service refers to the mechanisms that allow different processes within a sandboxed environment to communicate with each other. Theseinterfaces are crucial for coordinating activities among processes, especially in a restricted environment like a sandbox where direct interaction with the operating system or other processes might be limited for security reasons. This communication is essential for complex applications that require different processes to work together to perform tasks.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) material covers various security technologies and how they can be used to protect systems, which includes the use of sandboxing to isolate and monitor potentially malicious code

The attack described is a DNS amplification attack. It involves infected endpoints sending DNS requests with spoofed IP addresses to external DNS servers. The DNS servers then send large responses to the spoofed addresses, which are actually the targets of the attack. This can result in a significant amount of traffic being directed at the target, overwhelming their network resources. DNS amplification is a type of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that leverages the DNS protocol to amplify the attack traffic.

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

HTTPS uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure data transmission over the internet. This encryption makes it difficult to monitor HTTPS traffic because the data packets are encrypted making them unreadable to anyone trying to intercept or monitor the data without proper decryption keys. References := Cisco CyberOps Associate

The operation described is characteristic of the fork() system call in Linux, which is used to create a new process. The fork() system call generates a new process by duplicating the calling (parent) process. If the fork() is successful, the PID of the child process is returned to the parent process, and a 0 value is returned to the child process. If unsuccessful, a negative value is returned2.

References :=

How to create a process in Linux? - Online Tutorials Library

A buffer overflow attack occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it is designed to hold. This excess data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to the execution of malicious code or crashing the system. Buffer overflows are a common vulnerability that attackers exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

 The category of the Cyber Kill Chain model that this event belongs to is weaponization. This stage occurs after reconnaissance has taken place and the attacker has discovered all necessary information about potential targets, such as vulnerabilities. In the weaponization stage, the attacker’s preparatory work culminates in the creation of malware to be used against an identified target, which in this case is a specific worm tailored to exploit a software flaw and extract saved passwords. References: The Cyber Kill Chain framework, developed by Lockheed Martin, explains the weaponization stage as the process where attackers create or modify cyber weapons based on the intelligence gathered during reconnaissance

tcpdump

➡️ full packet capture

Cisco Umbrella➡️ transaction data

stateful firewall➡️ connection event

Snort➡️ session data

Security monitoring relies on collecting different types of telemetry, each providing a unique level of visibility. These data types range from high-level connection summaries to full packet inspection, and different technologies are optimized for each purpose.

tcpdump is a command-line packet capture utility that records raw network packets directly from an interface. It captures complete packet payloads and headers, making it a full packet capture tool commonly used for deep forensic analysis and protocol troubleshooting.

Cisco Umbrella operates primarily at the DNS and web layer, logging requests, responses, destinations, and policy decisions. This information represents transaction data, showing what was requested, when, and whether it was allowed or blocked—without full packet payloads.

A stateful firewall tracks the state of network connections, such as session initiation, continuation, and termination. It records connection events, including source, destination, ports, and allow/deny decisions, which are critical for traffic flow analysis and incident scoping.

Snort is a network intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS) that analyzes traffic flows using rules and signatures. It tracks conversations and detects suspicious behavior across sessions, providing session data rather than raw packet captures.

Cybersecurity operations documentation emphasizes correlating these different data types to gain layered visibility, allowing SOC teams to detect, investigate, and respond to threats efficiently.

 Sliding window anomaly detection is a technique used in cybersecurity to identify unusual patterns or behaviors that deviate from the norm. It involves analyzing segments of data over a period of time, referred to as a ‘window,’ and comparing them against typical patterns. Anomalies are detected when observed behaviors significantly differ from expected patterns, indicating potential security incidents or issues that require further investigation. References: An adaptive sliding window for anomaly detection of time series in wireless sensor networks

The Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is used to identify specific resources on the internet, including files. In the context of HTTP GET requests, the URI specifies the path to the file being requested.

This explanation is based on standard web protocols and practices, as the current page does not provide specific Cisco documentation.

 IP data stands for Intellectual Property data, which is any data that represents the creations of the mind, such as inventions, patents, designs, or artistic works. IP data is protected by law and has commercial value for its owners. In this case, the automotive company has a database of IP data for their engines and technical information, which customers can access after they register and identify themselves. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Data Protection, Topic 1.2.1: Data Types

An incident response plan is a document that defines the roles and responsibilities, procedures, and processes for detecting, analyzing, containing, eradicating, recovering, and learning from security incidents. The purpose of an incident response plan is to minimize the impact of incidents on the organization’s assets, operations, and reputation, and to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. An incident response plan is not the same as a security management plan, a disaster recovery plan, or a backup and archiving plan, although they may be related or complementary. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 92; NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, page 2-3

The correct display filter for analyzing FTP traffic in a PCAP file is “tcp.port==21”. This filter will show all TCP packets where the port number is 21, which is the standard port for FTP control messages.

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

 Traffic fragmentation is an evasion technique where an attacker splits malicious payloads into smaller packets. This can help avoid detection since some security systems may not reassemble these packets to inspect the complete payload.

The regular expression provided is:.\.(pd][Oo][Cc)|[Xx][LI][Ss]|[Pp][Pp][Tt]) HTTP/1 .[01]

This regular expression is designed to match file extensions for Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), and PowerPoint (.ppt) files in HTTP network sessions.

The regular expression uses character classes and alternatives to match different case variations of these file extensions.

The part.\.(pd][Oo][Cc)|[Xx][LI][Ss]|[Pp][Pp][Tt])matches the file extensions, andHTTP/1 .[01]ensures that the match is in the context of HTTP version 1.0 or 1.1.

References

Cisco ASA Regular Expressions Documentation

Understanding Regular Expressions in Network Security

Filtering and Capturing HTTP Traffic with Regex

NIST Special Publication 800-61 r2 outlines the incident response process including detection and analysis, which involves identifying and validating the occurrence of incidents, and post-incident activity that focuses on lessons learned and improvements to be made after an incident has occurred. References := NIST Special Publication 800-61 r2

A botnet is a network of compromised computers controlled by an attacker. Botnets are often used to carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, where the compromised machines are directed to flood a target with traffic, rendering it inaccessible. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.3: Common Network Application Operations and Attacks, Topic 1.3.4: Denial-of-Service Attacks

The Cuckoo report indicates that the file is a PE32 executable for MS Windows, which is typically an executable file format. The presence of the watermark “CHINESEDUMPS” and the detection ratio from VirusTotal suggest that the file is recognized by multiple antivirus engines as potentially harmful. This aligns with option A, suggesting that the file, named Win32.polip.a.exe, should be considered malicious and flagged accordingly.

The information provided is based on standard practices for analyzing potentially malicious files using tools like Cuckoo and services like VirusTotal, which are commonly referenced in cybersecurity documentation, including Cisco’s cybersecurity training materials.

The Zero Trust security model operates on the principle that no one is trusted by default from inside or outside the network, and verification is required from everyone trying to gain access to resources on the network. It emphasizes continuous monitoring, validation, and least-privilege access to minimize exposure to sensitive parts of the network.

 Zero Trust security | What is a Zero Trust network? | Cloudflare, Zero Trust Model: Unveiling 3 Core Principles for Enhanced Security, The Evolution of Zero Trust and the Frameworks that Guide It

 Cyber attribution is the process of identifying the source, motive, and methods of a cyberattack. Cyber attribution can help investigators to determine the responsibility, intent, and capability of the threat actors, as well as to prevent, deter, or respond to future attacks. One of the pieces of information that is needed for cyber attribution is known threat actor behavior, which refers to the patterns, techniques, tools, and tactics that are characteristic of a specific threat actor or group. Known threat actor behavior canhelp investigators to narrow down the suspects, link different incidents, and understand the objectives and strategies of the attackers. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 5: Security Policies and Procedures, Lesson 5.2: Incident Response, Topic 5.2.3: Cyber Attribution, page 5-14.

Agent-based monitoring: With agent-based monitoring, software agents are installed on the monitored systems or devices. These agents collect data locally, perform filtering or preprocessing of the data, and then transmit the relevant or valuable information to the monitoring system. Agent-based monitoring allows for local processing and filtering, which can reduce network utilization by only transmitting essential data. Agentless monitoring: Agentless monitoring, on the other hand, does not require software agents to be installed on the monitored systems or devices. Instead, it relies on leveraging existing protocols and interfaces, such as APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) or SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), to remotely access and retrieve monitoring data from the target systems. Agentless monitoring generally involves higher network utilization as the monitoring system needs to gather data from remote systems over the network.

 Full packet capture requires the largest amount of storage space because it involves recording all packets that pass through a network, including all headers and payloads. This type of data collection is comprehensive and allows for detailed analysis, but due to the volume of data it encompasses, it demands significant storage capacity1.

References := The Cisco Secure Network Analytics Data Store Design Guide discusses the storage requirements for different types of network data collection, highlighting the substantial storage needs for full packet captures1.

With stronger data visibility, detailed information about the data in real-time is provided. This enhanced visibility allows for a more comprehensive analysis of network traffic, enabling security professionals to identify and mitigate threats more effectively. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

The purpose of command and control (C&C) for network-aware malware is to allow an attacker to remotely control compromised systems. This includes sending commands to the malware, receiving data from the infected host, and updating the malware to evade detection or enhance its capabilities.

The CBROPS course materials cover the topic of network-aware malware and the role of command and control servers in managing such malware

Based on the image details, the exhibit shows a series of HTTP requests with the method GET, which are used to retrieve data from a web server. There is no evidence of any malicious payload or parameter in these requests, so they are likely regular GET requests. The other options are types of web application attacks that exploit different vulnerabilities, such as XML External Entities, insecure deserialization, and cross-site scripting. References := Cisco Cybersecurity

Persistence mechanisms allow attackers to maintain access to a compromised system across reboots, logoffs, or security events. In Windows environments, two of the most common and well-documented persistence techniques involve Registry Run keys and scheduled tasks.

The exhibit highlights several indicators of compromise, including new Registry entries under the Run key and newly created scheduled tasks that execute during non-business hours. Registry Run keys enable programs to execute automatically when the system or user starts, making them a frequent target for malware and attackers seeking long-term access. Similarly, Task Scheduler allows attackers to execute malicious code at predefined times or events, often designed to evade detection.

Analyzing both the Windows Registry changes and Task Scheduler tasks directly targets these persistence mechanisms. This aligns with host-based analysis best practices, which prioritize startup execution points and scheduled execution artifacts when persistence is suspected.

The other options are incomplete or misaligned. Windows Defender status and login attempts may indicate security tampering or brute-force activity, but they do not directly reveal persistence techniques. User account logins alone do not explain automated re-execution of malicious code, and deleting Run keys without full analysis risks destroying forensic evidence.

Therefore, focusing on Registry changes and Task Scheduler tasks provides the most accurate and operationally sound method for uncovering attacker persistence.

The exhibit shows a log that contains information such as the date, flow start, duration, protocol used, source and destination IP addresses and ports, packets, bytes, and flows. This type of detailed metadata is typically associated with NetFlow logs which are used for collecting IP traffic information and monitoring network traffic. References := Cisco CyberOps Associate

 The discrepancy described suggests that the system had a Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) installed. HIDS are designed to monitor and analyze the internals of a computing system for signs of intrusion and policy violations. While they can detect unauthorized activities, they do not take direct action to stop an attack; this is typically the role of an intrusion prevention system. Therefore, the alert was generated, but no mitigation action was taken because the HIDS does not have the capability to intervene.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material covers the functions and limitations of various security systems, including HIDS, and their role within a Security Operations Center (SOC)1.

In a Security Operations Center (SOC) environment, a vulnerability management metric is a quantifiable measure used to assess the effectiveness of the vulnerability management program. A full assets scan is a metric that can be used to determine the coverage and frequency of vulnerability scans across all assets. This helps in identifying unscanned assets and ensuring that all parts of the network are regularly checked for vulnerabilities1.

References :=

SOC Metrics: Security Metrics & KPIs for Measuring SOC Success

Vulnerability Management Metrics: 5 Metrics to Start Measuring in Your Vulnerability Management Program

Top 10 Vulnerability Management Metrics & KPIs To Measure Success

Rule-based detection involves identifying malicious activities based on predefined rules or patterns of known attacks; it does not adapt or change with new data. In contrast, behavioral detection adapts over time by learning from new data; it identifies malicious activities based on deviations from established norms or behaviors. References: CiscoCertified CyberOps Associate Overview, Section 1.0: Security Concepts, Subsection 1.1: Compare and contrast the characteristics of data obtained from taps, NetFlow, and packet capture)

 DNS amplification is a type of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack where an attacker uses publicly accessible open DNS servers to flood a target with DNS response traffic. The goal is to overwhelm the target with traffic, causing a denial of service.

Full packet capture data involves storing the entire content of packets that traverse a network. This type of data is comprehensive and allows for detailed analysis but requires a significant amount of storage space compared to other data types like transaction, statistical, or session data. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 3: Network Data and Event Analysis

 A TCP handshake is a three-way exchange of messages between a client and a server to establish a TCP connection. The client initiates the handshake by sending a SYN packet with a sequence number to the server. The server responds with a SYN-ACK packet with its own sequence number and an acknowledgment number that is the client’s sequence number plus one. The client completes the handshake by sending an ACK packet with an acknowledgment number that is the server’s sequence number plus one. If the remote server is not receiving an SYN-ACK packet from the local server, it means that the TCP handshake is not completed and the connection is not established. This could be causedby various factors, such as network congestion, firewall rules, packet filtering, or misconfiguration of the TCP parameters on either end. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 177; TCP 3-Way Handshake Process - GeeksforGeeks

 Cyber attribution identifies the threat actors of an attack in an investigation. Threat actors are the individuals, groups, organizations, or states that are responsible for conducting or sponsoring a cyberattack. Threat actors can have different motives, such as financial gain, espionage, sabotage, activism, or warfare. Cyber attribution can help investigators to determine the identity, location, affiliation, and motivation of the threat actors, as well as to hold them accountable and impose sanctions or legal actions. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 5: Security Policies and Procedures, Lesson 5.2: Incident Response, Topic 5.2.3: Cyber Attribution, page 5-14.

The regular expression c(rgr)+e matches strings where “rgr” occurs one or more times between “c” and “e”. The string “crgrrgre” fits this pattern as it has the sequence “rgr” repeated twice between “c” and “e”. The plus sign (+) in the regular expression indicates that the preceding element must appear one or more times for a match to occur

The file in question, which contains logs of unsuccessful login attempts from an unknown IP address, is considered indirect evidence. It suggests that there may have been an attempt to gain unauthorized access, but it does not directly prove who was responsible for the attempts. Indirect evidence can be used to support other evidence that may lead to a direct identification of the threat actor. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) and other Cisco cybersecurity resources provide information on how to analyze and categorize different types of evidence in the context of security incidents.

 Indicators of Compromise (IoC) are pieces of forensic data, such as system log entries or files, that suggest an intrusion may have occurred. Indicators of Attack (IoA) are signs that an attack may be underway, allowing organizations to take action before any potential breach occurs.

The CBROPS course materials cover the concepts of IoC and IoA, explaining how they are used in cybersecurity operations to detect and prevent security incidents.

Decision making is a principle that guides an analyst to gather information relevant to a security incident to determine the appropriate course of action. Decision making involves identifying the problem, defining the criteria, analyzing the alternatives, and choosing the best solution. Decision making helps an analyst to respond to an incident effectively and efficiently, while minimizing the impact and risk to the organization. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1.0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 3: Security Monitoring, Lesson 3.1: Security Operations Center)

A vulnerability scanner is a core security technology used to identify known weaknesses, misconfigurations, and exploitable flaws within an organization’s IT infrastructure. These tools systematically scan systems, networks, applications, and devices to compare them against databases of known vulnerabilities, such as missing patches, insecure services, outdated software versions, and weak configurations.

Vulnerability scanners operate by probing systems using signatures, checks, and authenticated or unauthenticated methods to determine exposure to threats. The results are typically presented in detailed reports that include severity ratings, affected assets, and remediation guidance. This makes vulnerability scanning an essential foundational activity in cybersecurity operations, risk management, and compliance programs.

The other options do not fulfill this function. Identity and access management focuses on user authentication, authorization, and access control, not weakness detection. Configuration management ensures systems remain in a desired state but does not actively discover vulnerabilities. Mobile device management is limited to controlling and securing mobile endpoints rather than assessing infrastructure-wide weaknesses.

From an operational perspective, vulnerability scanning supports proactive defense by allowing organizations to identify and remediate issues before attackers exploit them. It is commonly integrated into continuous monitoring programs, patch management workflows, and security assessments. As emphasized in cybersecurity operations documentation, vulnerability scanners are a primary mechanism for visibility into an organization’s attack surface.

The data shown in the exhibit is typical of what can be captured and displayed using tcpdump, a command-line packet analyzer that allows users to display TCP/IP and other packets being transmitted or received over a network.

Data tunneling is a technique used to conceal malicious or unauthorized data by embedding it within legitimate protocols or system processes. Attackers commonly use tunneling to bypass security controls, evade detection, and exfiltrate data through allowed network channels such as HTTP, DNS, or HTTPS.

Instead of transmitting malicious data directly, which may be blocked or flagged, the attacker encapsulates it within normal-looking traffic. For example, command-and-control communications may be hidden inside DNS queries, or stolen data may be exfiltrated within HTTP requests. To security tools, this traffic appears legitimate unless deep inspection or behavioral analysis is applied.

Options A, B, and C describe standard networking or cryptographic operations, not tunneling. Decryption, packetization, and data reassembly are normal functions of communication systems and are not inherently malicious.

Cybersecurity operations documentation highlights data tunneling as a common technique used in advanced persistent threats (APTs) and covert exfiltration scenarios. Detecting tunneling often requires correlation, anomaly detection, and protocol analysis rather than signature-based detection alone.

Therefore, data tunneling refers to hiding malicious data within legitimate system processes, making Option D the correct answer.

A false positive in network security is when a benign action is incorrectly flagged as malicious, leading to legitimate traffic being blocked. This can disrupt normal network operations and access to services, as the security system mistakenly identifies normal behavior as a threat1.

References := The concept of false positives and their impact on network traffic is discussed in various cybersecurity resources, including Cisco’s own training materials and discussions on network security best practices1.

 Phishing is considered a low-bandwidth attack because it does not require the use of significant network resources. Instead, it relies on social engineering to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links, often through email or other communication methods1.

The source IP address from an audit log that indicates a session which may have exploited a vulnerability is considered corroborative evidence. This type of evidence supports other evidence that suggests a security breach occurred. In the context of cybersecurity, corroborative evidence can help establish that an attack was carried out and can be used in conjunction with other data points to build a case during an investigation.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) training material discusses the types of data needed to investigate security incidents, which includes understanding the role of different types of evidence in building a security incident case1.

 In NetFlow log sessions within TCP connections; ACK flag is used for acknowledging that data has been successfully received while RST flag is used when there’s an error or when closing a connection spontaneously without following standard procedures. References := Cisco Cybersecurity source documents or study guide

The exhibit shows a SQL query that is attempting to bypass login controls by modifying the query to always return true. This is a common tactic used in SQL injection attacks where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

 Profiling a network involves various elements that provide insights into its characteristics and behaviors. Total throughput is crucial as it measures the amount of data passing from a source to a destination in a given period, reflecting the network’s capacity and usage patterns1. Listening ports are also essential for profiling because they represent the entry points for network services, indicating which services are available and potentially vulnerable1.

References :=

Network profiling tools and techniques discussed in online resources23.

Direct explanations of network profile elements

The logs indicating multiple local TCP connection events are typically provided by a firewall. Firewalls are responsible for monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, and they generate logs that detail such events, which can be used for further analysis and incident response. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

Enabling the “Allow subdissector to reassemble TCP streams” feature in Wireshark allows the tool to reassemble TCP segments into a contiguous sequence, which can be used by higher-level protocols to reconstruct a full message, such as an HTTP request or response. This is particularly useful for extracting files or data transmitted over TCP that are spread across multiple packets1.

References := The explanation is based on the Wireshark documentation, which details how the reassembly feature works and its use in analyzing TCP streams

 SOC metrics in relation to security incidents typically refer to the time it takes to detect the incident. These metrics are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of incident response and remediation efforts by SOC teams. For example, metrics like the Mean Time to Detect (MTTD) enable organizations to assess how quickly they can identify a security incident, which is essential for reducing the impact of the incident on the organization. 

 Availability is one of the three pillars of the CIA triad, a model that defines the principles of information security. Availability describes the concept of data consistently and readily being accessible for legitimate users. Availability ensures that the network and systems are operational and resilient to disruptions, such as denial-of-service attacks, hardware failures, or natural disasters. Availability also involves maintaining backup and recovery procedures, load balancing, and redundancy mechanisms. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: Security Principles

200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, Exam Topics, 1.0 Security Concepts, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview - Cisco Learning Network, Videos, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

A Certificate Authority (CA) is responsible for issuing digital certificates to validate the identity of the certificate holder and provide a means to establish secure communications over networks like the Internet. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

False positives and false negatives are terms used to describe the accuracy of security alerts. A false positive occurs when a security system incorrectly identifies benign activity as malicious, leading to unnecessary investigation and potential disruption of legitimate activities. Conversely, a false negative happens when a security system fails to detect actual malicious activity, allowing the attackers to proceed undetected. The impact of false positives is generally wasted time and resources investigating non-issues, while the impact of false negatives can be much more severe, potentially leading to undetected breaches and significant damage.

The CBROPS curriculum covers the concepts of false positives and false negatives in the context of security monitoring and alerting systems

User interaction is any event that requires the user to perform an action that enables or facilitates a cyberattack. Opening a malicious file is an example of user interaction, as it can trigger the execution of malicious code or malware that can compromise the system or network. Gaining root access, executing remote code, and reading and writing file permissions are not user interactions, but rather actions that can be performed by an attacker after exploiting a vulnerability or bypassing security controls. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, More than 99% of cyberattacks rely on human interaction

Upgrading to TLS v1.3 is recommended because it eliminates outdated cryptographic functions and reduces the risk of downgrade attacks, which can occur when attackers force connections to use weaker encryption. TLS v1.3 only supports secure cipher suites and algorithms, enhancing the security of communications.

 To analyze both payload and header information, an engineer must capture the full packet data. This includes all protocol and payload information for the traffic, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the data being transmitted5678. References: Full packet capture is a common practice in network monitoring and security, as it provides detailed insights into the data transmitted over the network, including both payload and header information

The PCAP file shows a network packet capture of an HTTP GET request from a client to a server. The User-Agent header field identifies the type and version of the client software that generated the request. In this case, the User-Agent is Mozilla/5.0, which indicates that the client is using a Mozilla-based browser or application. The User-Agent can help the server to customize the response based on the client’s capabilities and preferences. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 3: Network Protocols and Services, Lesson 3.2: HTTP and HTTPS, Topic 3.2.1: HTTP Headers.

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Ping of Death involves sending oversized or malformed pings to crash the target system, while UDP flooding overwhelms the target with UDP packets to consume its resources and disrupt services. These are both examples of denial of service attacks, which aim to prevent legitimate users from accessing a system or service. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 4: Network Intrusion Analysis

Port scanning is a technique that an attacker uses to discover which network ports are open, closed, or filtered on a target device. By sending packets to different ports and observing the responses, an attacker can identify the services and applications running on the device, as well as potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Port scanning is a common reconnaissance activity that precedes an attack. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 2-6; 200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, exam topic 1.1.a

Defense-in-depth is a security strategy where multiple layers of defense are placed throughout an information technology (IT) system. It addresses physical, technical, and administrative controls to provide redundancy and ensure that if one layer fails, others will be in place to thwart an attack. References: Cisco Tech Roles - CyberOps Engineer

 HTTPS traffic is difficult to screen because it is encrypted using the SSL/TLS protocol, which secures the data in transit between the client and the server. This encryption ensures that any intercepted traffic cannot be easily read or tampered with by third parties. Screening or inspecting this encrypted traffic would require decrypting it, which poses significant challenges and potential security risks12.

The concept of HTTPS and its implications on traffic screening are discussed in various cybersecurity resources, including Cisco’s cybersecurity training materials3.

Cloudflare provides an explanation of HTTPS inspection and the challenges associated with it

False-positive alerts are alerts that are triggered by benign or normal network traffic and are mistakenly identified as malicious. False positives can have a negative impact on business as they may consume the resources and time of the security team that need to analyze and verify them. True-positive alerts are alerts that correctly identify malicious traffic or activity and require proper incident response procedures. True positives can help the security team to quickly detect and mitigate threats and minimize the damage to the organization. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 92; [Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS 200-201 Official Cert Guide], page 98

In digital forensics and incident response, disk imaging is a critical process used to create an exact copy of a storage device for analysis. An untampered disk image—also referred to as a forensically sound image—preserves the original data exactly as it existed at the time of acquisition. This includes file contents, metadata, deleted files, and unallocated space. Untampered images are verified using cryptographic hash values to ensure integrity and admissibility.

A tampered disk image, on the other hand, is one that has been altered after acquisition or intentionally manipulated to conceal or insert data. Tampering may involve modifying files, altering metadata, injecting hidden data, or using steganographic techniques to store hidden items within the image. Such changes invalidate the integrity of the evidence and compromise forensic analysis.

Options A and B are incorrect because security is not defined by whether an image is tampered or untampered; rather, integrity and authenticity are the determining factors. Option C is incorrect because untampered images do not intentionally store hidden items—they preserve data as-is.

Cybersecurity operations documentation emphasizes that maintaining untampered disk images is essential for reliable investigation, legal proceedings, and accurate root-cause analysis. Any modification to an image must be documented and performed on a working copy, never the original.

Therefore, the correct distinction is that tampered disk images may store hidden or altered items, making Option D the correct answer.

 The communication channel established from a compromised machine back to the attacker is known as a command and control (C2) channel. This channel allows attackers to maintain communication with the compromised system, issue commands, and potentially exfiltrate data. The C2 channel can be established using various protocols and methods to evade detection and maintain persistence.

Cisco’s Zero Trust Architecture is built around the principle of never trust, always verify, and it organizes zero trust controls into three interconnected domains: Workforce, Workplace, and Workload. Each domain addresses a different aspect of access control and risk reduction.

The Workforce pillar focuses on user identity and endpoint posture. Cisco zero trust ensures that users and their devices are continuously verified before granting access to applications. This includes validating identity, device health, and context to determine appropriate access privileges.

The Workplace pillar addresses the network environment where users and devices connect. This includes enterprise networks, branch offices, and IoT environments. Cisco applies trust-based access controls to ensure that only authorized and compliant devices can communicate on the network, regardless of location.

The Workload pillar protects applications and services running in data centers, cloud environments, and containers. The goal is to reduce the attack surface by enforcing least-privilege access, ensuring that workloads only communicate with explicitly authorized services and users.

Cybersecurity operations documentation emphasizes that effective zero trust requires visibility and enforcement across all three areas. Cisco’s model simplifies implementation by clearly defining responsibilities and controls within each domain, enabling organizations to reduce lateral movement, limit blast radius, and improve overall security posture.

The output indicates that several ports are open on the server with IP address 172.18.104.139, including port 22/tcp for SSH, port 25/tcp for SMTP, port 110/tcp for POP3, and port 143/tcp for IMAP - these are typically associated with a web server. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s data and demands a ransom for the decryption key. The attacker may also threaten to publish or delete the data if the ransom is not paid. In this case, the Egregor malware is distributed through a Cobalt Strike, which is a penetration testing tool that can be used to deploy payloads on compromised systems. The malware exfiltrates the victim’s data to a command and control server and uses it as leverage to extort money from the victim. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.3: Common Network Application Operations and Attacks, Topic 1.3.3: Malware Attacks

Full packet capture (FPC) is a valuable tool for investigating security breaches because it provides comprehensive data that can be used to reconstruct the event and identify the root cause. By capturing every packet, FPC allows engineers to see exactly what took place during the breach, including the TCP flags set within each packet, which can help focus on suspicious packets to identify malicious activity. It also collects metadata,including IP traffic packet data that is sorted, parsed, and indexed, and provides the full TCP streams to follow the metadata to identify the incoming threat

Wireshark is a widely-used network protocol analyzer that allows users to capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network. It provides full packet capture capabilities, enabling detailed analysis of network traffic. References: This is supported by the CBROPS course materials, which discuss security monitoring and the analysis of network traffic, including full packet capture tools like Wireshark

The presence of a default user agent in the headers of requests and data being transmitted suggests a cache bypassing attack. In this scenario, the attacker is likely requesting noncacheable content to avoid detection by caching mechanisms that could otherwise identify and block malicious traffic.

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems are solutions that provide real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. They collect, store, analyze, and report on log data for incident response, forensics, and regulatory compliance. On the other hand, SOAR (Security Orchestration Automation and Response) platforms allow organizations to collect data about security threats from multiple sources and respond to low-level security events without human assistance. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of cyberattack where an attacker intercepts and alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In this case, the attacker is impersonating mail.google.com and presenting a fake certificate to the endpoint device. The endpoint device detects that the certificate is not issued by a trusted authority and displays an error message. The attacker can then monitor or modify the traffic between the endpoint device and mail.google.com. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, Module 3: Host-Based Analysis, Lesson 3.2: Endpoint Security Technologies

200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, Exam Topics, 3.0 Host-Based Analysis, 3.2 Compare and contrast the functionality of these endpoint security technologies

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview - Cisco Learning Network, Videos, 3.2 Compare and contrast the functionality of these endpoint security technologies

Corroborative evidence is the type of evidence that supports a theory or an assumption that results from initial evidence. It provides additional support to the initial findings, strengthening the theory or assumption by confirming the same facts or pointing towards the same conclusion with independent pieces of evidence4567.

References := Types of evidence (article) | Lessons | Khan Academy, Evidence: Fundamental Concepts and the Phenomenal Conception, Navigating Scientific Evidence: Types and Definitions, How Courts Work - American Bar Association

The packet capture shows that IP address 192.168.88.149, using source port 80 (common for HTTP traffic), initiated communication with IP address 192.168.88.12 at destination port 49098, using the TCP protocol, indicating a typical client-server interaction over the web.

= These explanations are based on general cybersecurity principles as outlined in Cisco’s training and certification content, such as the Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) and other related Cisco resources.

 Tap and SPAN are two methods of capturing network traffic for analysis. Tap (Test Access Point) is a hardware device that is inserted between two network devices and sends a copy of all traffic to a monitoring device. SPAN (Switched Port Analyzer) is a software feature that allows a network switch to replicate traffic from one or more source ports to a destination port, where a monitoring device is connected. Both methods provide visibility into network traffic, but Tap is more reliable and less intrusive than SPAN, as it does not affect the network performance or introduce errors. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 68.

Session data is the data type that is necessary to get information about source/destination ports. Session data is the information about connections between hosts, such as IP addresses, ports, protocols, and duration. Session data can be used to identify the services and applications that are being used on the network, as well as the direction and volume of the traffic. Session data can also help to detect anomalous or malicious behavior, such as port scanning, brute force attacks, or data exfiltration. Session data can be collected from various sources, such as firewalls, routers, switches, or network monitoring tools. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.2: Data Sources, Topic 2.2.2: Session Data (https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html)

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Certification Guide, Chapter 3: Data Sources, Section 3.2: Session Data (https://www.ciscopress.com/store/cisco-certified-cyberops-associate-certification-guide-9780136807834)

 Application-level whitelisting is a security technology that allows only a set of pre-approved applications to run on a system, and blocks any other unauthorized or malicious programs. This can prevent malware, ransomware, zero-day exploits, and other threats from compromising the system. Application-level whitelisting is also known as application control or application allowlisting. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 3: Host-Based Analysis, Lesson 3.2: Endpoint Security Technologies, Topic 3.2.3: Application Whitelisting, page 3-20.

SQL injection is a type of injection attack where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution.

The primary way to prevent SQL injection is by validating and sanitizing user input. This involves checking the input for malicious content and ensuring it adheres to expected patterns.

Prepared statements (parameterized queries) are also highly effective, as they treat user input as data rather than executable code.

Implementing these practices ensures that any input received from users does not manipulate SQL queries in a harmful way.

References

OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet

Best Practices for Input Validation and Sanitization

Secure Coding Guidelines

 Behavior-based detection monitors the behavior of programs in real-time. If a piece of software acts similarly to known malware after it’s been executed, behavior-based detection can stop it in its tracks. Signature-based detection involves searching for known patterns of data within executable code; if a pattern matches a “signature” in the system’s database that is considered malicious. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

 Vulnerability refers to a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited by threats. Risk, on the other hand, is the potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability. The risk is essentially the impact or consequence of a vulnerability being exploited

Ransomware is a form of malicious software designed to encrypt a victim’s data and deny access until a ransom is paid. Once executed, ransomware typically encrypts files using strong cryptographic algorithms and displays a ransom note demanding payment, often in cryptocurrency, in exchange for a decryption key.

Unlike spyware, which focuses on data theft, ransomware primarily targets availability and integrity by rendering data unusable. Modern ransomware variants may also exfiltrate data before encryption to apply additional pressure on victims through extortion.

Option A describes command-and-control mechanisms, not ransomware. Option B refers to data-stealing malware such as spyware or trojans. Option D describes a storage issue, not a cyberattack.

Cybersecurity operations fundamentals identify ransomware as one of the most impactful attack types due to its ability to disrupt business operations, cause financial loss, and damage organizational reputation.

Therefore, the correct definition of a ransomware attack is that it encrypts a victim’s data and prevents access, making Option C correct.

The event where a breached workstation is trying to connect to a known malicious domain suggests that the attacker is moving towards their end goals, which typically involves actions on objectives.

In the Cyber Kill Chain framework, "Action on objectives" refers to the steps taken by an attacker to achieve their intended outcomes, such as data exfiltration, destruction, or ransom demands.

This phase involves the attacker executing their final mission within the target environment, leveraging access gained in earlier stages of the attack.

References

Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain

Understanding the Stages of Cyber Attacks

Incident Response and the Cyber Kill Chain

When a stream cipher like RC4 is used twice with the same key, it becomes vulnerable to a ciphertext-only attack. In this type of attack, the attacker has access to several ciphertexts that are encrypted with the same key but does not know anything about the plaintexts. By analyzing these ciphertexts, an attacker can gain insights into the plaintext or even recover parts or all of it. References := Cisco Cybersecurity source documents or study guide (I need to search for specific references as I don’t have direct access to Cisco’s proprietary content)

Host-based firewalls are designed to protect individual workstations from unwanted traffic by filtering incoming and outgoing network communications based on predefined security rules. They can block unauthorized access attempts and prevent potentially harmful traffic from reaching the system.

A vulnerability management framework is a set of processes and tools that helps an organization identify, assess, prioritize, remediate, and mitigate system vulnerabilities. A vulnerability management framework aims to reduce the attack surface and the risk of compromise by applying security patches, hardening configurations, implementing security controls, and monitoring the system status. A vulnerability management framework is an essential component of a security operations center (SOC). References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 2-14; 200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, exam topic 1.2.b

Network Address Translation (NAT) is the technology that allows a single IP address to send and receive traffic for multiple devices by modifying the IP header. NAT remaps one IP address space into another, enabling multiple devices to use a single public IP address to send and receive packets through the Internet2.

References := The concept of NAT and its role in network traffic management is detailed in networking resources and documentation, including those provided by network solution providers2.

Patch management is the process of distributing and managing updates to software and systems. These updates can include patches for security vulnerabilities, bug fixes, andenhancements to improve performance or add new features. It ensures that systems are up-to-date, secure, and performing optimally. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Training

In cybersecurity, a threat is any potential malicious attack or event that can harm an organization, while a risk is the potential damage or loss that could occur if a threat exploits a vulnerability. Therefore, risk is considered the intersection of threats and vulnerabilities, representing the likelihood and impact of a threat materializing.